Loom



Jan. 11, 1944. M. v. ITIRREILL 7 2,339,206

' .4 L OOM Filed Jan. 10; 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 1 .11: were tar MAW/75W x4 7/2/ 521,

Jan. 11, 1944. M. v. TIRRELL LOOM Filed Jan. 10, 1941 e Shgets-$heet 2 .[zz van 2902' a n m M M y 7 w 1944- M. v. TIRRELL ,33

LOOM

Filed Jan. 10, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Trav- 5 i *i /e' Ilia-=11 El mrmm mr/fieaz,

Jan. 11, 1944. v, RRELL 2,339,206

LOOM

Filed Jan. 10, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 1 J22 1) 492710? MA rrm u V. 709,951 1.,-

Patented Jan. 11, 1944 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE,

LOOM

Matthew V. Tirrell, Phillipsburg, N. J. Application January 10, 1941, Serial No. 373,994

5 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in looms, and more particularly to a loom control device for preventing shuttle-smashes due to improper positioning of the shuttles.

Although the invention is applicable to an alternate pick type of loom having a single shift able shuttle box, one of the primary objects of the invention is to provide simple and effective shuttle smash-preventing loom control means which will be readily applicable to the various types of looms embodying two shiftable shuttle boxes and which operate on a pick-and-pick basis.

As is well-known, the ordinary lay-carried protection rod functions between the center down and center forward positions of the crankshaft to actuate the loom stopping knock-off mechanism only when an empty cell of each shuttle box is aligned with the shuttle raceway of the lay.

Thus, the ordinary protection rod mechanism affords no protection against a shuttle smash resulting from the inadvertent presence of a shuttle in each of the raceway-aligned cells at the time a pick is to be made.

Therefore, it is a primary object of my invention to overcome the aforementioned objection, and also to provide a shuttle-smash prevention means which can be used in addition to the usual lay-carried protection rod.

A further object of the invention is to furnish apparatus for the purpose stated which may be rendered effective to operate the knock-01f mechanism of the loom at predetermined times, for instance, just before a pick is started, or during the final stage of the shuttle box shift which precedes the making of a pick.

The invention also resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, and in modes of operation thereof, all of which will be apparent to those skilled A in the art upon reference to the accompanying drawings in conjunction with the detailed description appearing hereinafter.

It is to be understood that while the drawings and description deal with the now-preferred embodiment of the invention, involving an electri cally operated knock-off mechanism operator in a circuit controlled by two shuttle box guidecarried switches and a crankshaft operated switch, yet nevertheless the inventive concept is susceptible of other mechanical expression within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein the same reference characters have been used to designate the same parts in all views:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of so much of a well-known type of loom having two shiftable shuttle boxes as is necessary .for an understanding adjacent rear portions of the loom frame and associated elements, the illustration of certain switches being largely diagrammatic;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken online 4-4 of Figure 3 and showing a crankshaft operated switch which is incorporated in the invention;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section, partly broken, taken on the line 55 of Figure 3, illustrating a portion ofthe lay, and a part of the electrically controlled, lay-operated knockofi operator;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the shuttle boxes taken on line 66 of Figure 2, and showing in circuit closing position, one of the shuttle-box-guide-carried, binder-controlled switches which are included in the invention;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing the shuttle box partially shifted and the switch in open position;

Figure 8 is a front elevational View of one of the binderecontrolled switches shown in Figures 6 and 7;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8; 7

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line Ill-400i Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on line H-ll of Figure 8; Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-12 of Figure'8;

Figure 13 is a wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings, numeral l0 denotes the frame of a conventional loom, said frame providing the head arch I [which carries the head motion and harness mounts, neither of which are shown. It should be understood that only so much of the loom structure is illustrated in the drawings as is necessary for an understanding of the invention here presented. a

The lay .12 is supported by the usual swords 13 carried by the rock shaft M at the lower front portion of frame Ill. The upper ends of swords 13 are received in the clamp seats l5 at the inner ends of the shuttle box guide frames A 6, which latter are bolted as usual to the opposite endsof the shuttle raceway-providing beam element or raceway |2a of the lay |2. In the illustration of the lay, the reed and its hand rail are omitted and only the slotted mounting ears or ear portions |6a of shuttle box guide frame l6 are shown.

Appropriate rocking movement of the lay |2 is achieved in the usual manner by means of the connecting rods |1 carried by cranks of the conventional driven crankshaft l8. Crankshaft I8 is journaled in bearings |9 carried by the end portions of the frame ID as shown in Figure 1. The outer ends of the connecting rods |1 have the usual bearing 28 at the rear of the shuttle box guide frames l6, as shown.

As herein disclosed, there is provided in each are indicated at'22. The number of cells 22 is, of 7 course, immaterial.

The lay sword-carrying rock shaft l 4 carries at its outerends, outwardly of the end portions of frame H], the usual rocker irons 23. These rocker irons 23 provide the usual spring encircled supporting posts 24 whose upper ends are secured to the respective shuttle box guide frames I6, the customary actuating rods 25 for effecting proper shifting of the shuttle boxes 2|, and likewise the conventional shuttle-actuating picker sticks 26.

The usual binders 21, one for each shuttle box cell 22, are pivoted on the vertical pins 28 carried adjacent one end of the front portion of the respective shuttle boxes 2|. The binders 21 serve to closethe fronts of cells 22, and have the usual inwardly bulged portions 21a for frictionally engaging the shuttles 29 when same are in the respective cells 22. Leaf springs 30, as usual serve to normally press the binders 21 into frictional contact with the shuttles 29.

Connecting the end members of fram ID of the loom, at the front, is the breast beam 3| shown in Fig. 1.

As indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the lay l2 carries the usual protection rod 32 journaled in bearings 34. Theouter ends of the protection rod 32 have fixedly secured thereon the bearing ends 35a of the arms 35 which provide the usual offset portions which are normally urged, by coil springs 33, into bearing engagement with the binders 21 of the particular cells 22 which are aligned with a raceway |2a of the lay. The coil springs 33 about the protection rod 32 each have one end anchored to a set collar 36 and the other to the lay l2, whereby to urge arms 35 toward shuttle boxes 2| as usual. The customary stop elements 31, fast on the protection rod 32, serve to limit rocking of same against the action of springs 33.

The protection rod 32 has the conventional forwardly extending fingers 38 (Figs. 1 and 3), and when there is no shuttle in either of the cells 22 which are aligned with the raceway 2a of the lay, springs 33 rock protection rod 32 in a clockwise direction (Fig. l) to alignthe outer ends of fingers 38 with the usual actuator lug 39 of the knock-off shaft 40 which is disposed below breast beam 3|- Thus, when the lay [2 comes to the center forward position (Fig. 1) with both of the raceway-aligned cells 22 empty, the knock-off shaft 40 will be rocked clockwise by engagement of fingers 38 (see Fig. 1) with 39, it being understood that shaft 40 operates the usual clutch (not shown) for throwin the loom into and out of gear, and is provided with a handle 4| for manual control.

As has been intimated heretofore, so much of the loom as has been hereinabove described is standard construction. 7

However, in carrying out my invention, I provide the knock-off shaft 48 with a depending lug 42 adjacent one end of the frame ID. This lug 42 is adapted to be engaged by the detent 43 which is fast on the rod 44 which extends transversely of the lay I2 below one of the shuttle box and guide assemblies 2|, l6 and has its outer end received in a guide 45 which is secured to the inner surface of one end of frame H), as indicated in Fig. 1.

The opposite end of the rod 44 is pivoted as at 46 to the lower end of a lever 41 which is pivoted as at 48 to a loom frame l8 and has its upper end provided with the forwardly extending detent 50 whose rear end is pivoted at 49 to said lever 41.

Connected to the detent 50 is the link 5| whose upper end is pivoted as at 52 to the lower end of the plunger or core 53 of an electric solenoid 54. The solenoid 54 is carried by a bracket 55 which is suitably secured to the loom frame l0 as shown at 56 in Figs. 1 and 3.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the detent 59, when the solenoid 54 is not energized, will have its rear end disposed below the plane of the bunter 51. Bunter 51 is carried on the screw rod 58 which is threaded through the offset arm 59a of a bracket 59 which is secured to the ear portion |6a of the shuttle-box guide frame It by means of bolt 69.

From what has been said, it will be evident that when the lay l2 approaches the center rear position, just before which position a pick will be made, the bunter 51 will engage detent 50 of the lever 41 and rock the latter clockwise (Fig. 1) only when the solenoid 54 is energized to raise the detent 50 into the path of the bunt er 51.

A lock nut 6| on the screw 58 serves to lock the latter in a predetermined extended position with reference to the arm 59a of the bracket 59.

The circuit of solenoid 54 includes, in series, a binder-controlled switch A for each of the shuttle boxes 2| and a'crankshaft-controlled switch B. As indicated hereinbefore, it is only when both of the switches A and the switch B are closed that the solenoid 54 will be energized to lift the detent 50 into the path of the bunter 51 so as to effect actuation of the knock-01f shaft 48 through 41, 44, 43, and 42 (see Fig. 3) as the lay approaches center rear position, whereby to throw the loom out of gear.

As will be more fully understood as the description proceeds, the respective binder-controlled switches A will be closed only when there is a shuttle 29 in the opposed raceway-aligned shuttle box cells 22. Crankshaft-controlled switch 13 will be closed only for a brief period beginning when the lay I2 is in the latter stage of its center upright position at a time when the shift of shuttle boxes 2| is substantially completed and before a pick is started. (Pick means actuation of a shuttle 29 across the raceway l2a.) Switch B remains closed until the lay 12 leaves the center rear position, by which time the pick has been completed Since the binder-controlled switches A are duplicates, a description of one will suffice for both. An L-bracket 62 is secured as at 63 to the bottom |6b of the shuttle box guide frame l6 and has its upwardly extending arm slotted as at 62a (Fi 9) to receive the clamp bolt 64 of a bearing bracket 65. Clamp bolt 64 extends through the horizontal slot 65a of the depending flange porbearing opening of bearing bracket 65 byimans of set screw 6'! is the horizontal stub shaft 66 upon which is journaled the bearing end 68a of the arm 68 which has the offset nose-like binder engaging portion 68b. Adjacent the rear of the offset binder engaging portion 681), the arm 68 has the laterally extending binding post 69, a portion of which is disposed in the path of the flexible contact strip ID of an'insulation material email which is also journaled on shaft 66 and separated from the bearing end of arm 68 by spacer elements I3 as shown in Fig. 8. A screw 76d and a binding post 10b serve to se'curethe the contact strip 10 to the insulation material arm 1 I.

A coil spring I2 disposed on shaft 65 between bracket 65 and the bearing end 68a of arm 68 has one end 12a engaged under a side lug 650 of said shaft bracket 65 while the other end o said spring extends outwardly and is anchored as at 'I2b to arm 68. Said spring I2, therefore, operates to cause the nose portion 68b of said arm to b actuated against the opposed one of the hind ers 21 of the adjacent shuttle box 2|.

The insulation material armll is normally ac tuated againstthe lateral lug 15a ofa set collar 75 at the outer end of shaft 66 by means of spring M having one end 14a disposed beneath sa d lug 75a and the other end 14b bearing against the upper portion of said insulation material arm II as shown in Fig. 8. The set collar I5 is secured on the shaft 66 by means of a set screw l6 as shown in Figs. 8, l0 and 11. A flanged ended insulation sleeve 69a (Fig. 11) insulates the binding post 69 from arm 68.

It will be evident from an inspection of Figs. 6 and 7 that when there is no shuttle in the cell 22 which is aligned with the raceway In of the lay, or when the shuttle box ZI has been shifted to a point where a shuttle cell 22 is only half above the surface of the lay, the contact element II! of the insulation arm 'II will be out of contact with the binding post extension 69 of the arm 68 so that the circuit to the solenoid 54 will be broken at such point.

Coming now to the switch B, and turning to Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, it will be noted that crankshaft IS has the hub 11. of a cam finger I8 keyed thereon between the frame In and the hand wheel Illa.

As the crankshaft rotates, it makes periodic engagement with the metallic contact strip I9 whose rear end is secured by binding post 80 to an insulation material strip BI, which 'latteris fastened at B2 to the outer flattened end of an adjustable arm 83 having the lineal slot '85.

Arm 53 is secured in a predetermined adjusted position by means of a clamp bolt 85 extending through slot 85 of arm 83 and through the lineal slot 86 of the vertical arm 31a of bracket 87. Bracket 87 is secured as at 88 to the outer surface of the end portion of frame I0 adjacent the crankshaft I8.

As shown, the solenoid 54 (see Figs. 3 and 13) is energized by electric current from the main line 89 through the transformer 943, one side of which is connected to a line 91. .The other end of line'9I is connected to binding post 69 of the leftmost binder switch arm 68. From the other side of the transformer '98, the line 91a leads to the binding post 80 of the finger-contacting arm I9, which latter is, of course, grounded on the frame I0 through the crankshaft I8, as indicated at 92, only when it engages crankshaft finger 18.

man 6511 of bearing bracket as. .Clam'p'ed inthe Another wire 93 connects binding post meet the left-hand insulation material and II (Fig; 3) with binding post 69 of the right-hand switch arm 68. A third wire 94 connects the binding post .191) of the rightmost insulation material arm 'II with one binding post 95 of, solenoid 54.

The other binding post 96 of solenoid 54 is grounded on frame ID as indicated at 91.

From an inspection of Figure 2, it will be understood that when switches A; A and B are closed current flows to the solenoid 54 from transformer by way of line 9|, elements 69, 18b of the left hand binder controlled switch A; thence by way of line 93 through elements 69, 10b of the right hand binder-controlled switch A and to the binding post of the solenoid 54. The other binding post 96 of the solenoid being grounded on frame I0 as indicated at 91, the circuit is completed back to the transformer 90 through the grounded crankshaft-carried contact finger IS; the contact strip I0 and line 9| a.

Th operation of the apparatus may be summarized as follows: V

The operation and advantages of the instant invention will be best understood and appreciated by brieflyrecalling the ordinary operation of the twin shiftable shuttle box loom shown in the drawings.

First, the lay I2, as shown in Figure 1, adjacent the breast beam 3! is at the limit of its forward travel which is the position it assumes at what is known as the center forward position of the cranks of crankshaft I8. When the lay I2 is at the limit of its rearward movement away from breast beam 3|, the cranks of shaft I8 are in the center rear position. One of the inter mediate positions of the layI2 is when the cranks of shaft I8 are extended upwardly (known as the center upright position), and theother intermediate position of lay I2 is defined in terms of crank position as the center down position of the lay-operating cranks of shaft I8.

The rotation of crankshaft I8 is continuous and the sequence of lay and crank position is center down, center forward, center uprightfand center rear,; which means that crankshaft I8 turns in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1.

At the center down position of the cranks of crankshaft I8 any shift of the shuttle boxes 2| that is required by the pattern control mechanism of the head motion is started and controlled in the usual way. I

When the center forward crank position is reached the shuttle box shift is half completed. Of course, during the time that the shuttl box shift is taking place no pick is made, which is to say, there is no movement of a shuttle 29 across (Fig. 2) and the 'rearw'ardly extending protec tion rod fingers 38 will be raised to engage the usual lug 39 of the knock-off shaft 40 below breast beam 3| to stop the loom. But if there is a shuttle 29 in either o'f'the raceway-aligned cells-22 such action does not take place. This is important to remember.

During the movement of the lay I2 to the center upright crank-position, the shuttle box shift is completed, following which a pick starts, which is to say a shuttle 29 is started across the layraceway [2a under the action of one of the crank position the pick has been completed,

meaning that the shuttle 29 which was actuated across the lay raceway I2a has been housed in the raceway-aligned cell-22 of the opposite shuttle box 2|, and that a filler thread has been drawn through the shed (not shown). Needless to say, there is no movement of the shuttle boxes 2| at the center rear-crank position of lay [2.

Coming now to the operation of the present shuttle smash-prevention improvements it is here re-emphasised that same comes into action only when there are shuttles 29 in, or partly in, each of the raceway-aligned cells 22, and when the lay I2 is moving through center-upright to center-rear position. This means that the instant shuttle smash prevention improvement will be called into action before a pick is started and I may be rendered effective just prior to completion of the shuttle box shift, which is to say, just before the selected cells 22 thereof reach full alignment with the lay raceway l2a- To achieve this result, the closing of the circuit of solenoid 54 at the crankshaft switch B is effected by engagement of the crankshaft-carried cam finger l8 with the flexible contact strip 19 (see Figs. 1, 3, and 4) at approximately the point between the center forward and center upright positions of the lay l2 when binder 21 of the cell or cells 22 that are being. aligned with the lay raceway l2a are operatively engagingtheswitch arm nose portions 68b of the binder-controlled switches A to close the latter at 69, 10 (see Figs. 6 and '7).

Ihe crankshaft-carried finger 18 of switch B maintainscontact with-the flexible contact strip 19 until after the lay l2 has passed the center upright position at which a shuttle 29 is actuated to make a pick.

The adjustability of the mounts of binder switch-es A, A and of the mount of the arm 83 of crankshaft switch B is important, as it makes my apparatus applicable to different types of looms. Likewise, the adjustability of hunter 5? toward and away from the shuttle box guide portion 16a (Fig. 1) enables me to effect stopping of the loom at different predetermined times.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A shuttle smash prevention attachment means for looms which include electrically oper-' ated control means, an energizing circuit therefor, and a shiftable shuttle box-incorporating lay, said attachment'comprising a lay-carried switch opposite the binder side of said shiftable shuttle box, said switch comprising relatively movable contact carrying elements normally urged toward the opposed shuttle box, the contacts of said movable switch elements being adapted to interengage, and means limiting movement of one'of said contact carrying switch elements to maintain-it out of contact with the shuttle box, and its contact out of engagement with the contact of the other movable switch element when there is no shuttle at least'partially in an at least partially raceway-aligned cell of the opposed shuttle box.

said shuttle box, and means adjustably securing said switch to said bracket arm.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1, and the second movable contact-carrying switch element having an offset binder-engaging end portion and its contact extending laterally behind said offset, and said first mentioned switch element being aligned with said offset end portion and behind same.

4. An electric circuit-incorporating shuttlesmash prevention attachment means for looms which have a frame-carried crankshaft, lay-carried cell-providing shuttle boxes, guides for said shuttle boxes and a binder for each of said box cells, said attachment comprising an L-bracket carried by each shuttle box guide, one arm of each L-bracket being secured to the bottom of said shuttle box guide and the other arm extending upwardly therefrom in outwardly spaced relationship to the front side of the adjacent shuttle box and its shuttle-engaging binders, a stub shaft-carrying bracket for each L-bracket, means securing said stub shaft-carrying brackets to said second mentioned arm of their respective L-brackets for both lineal and transverse adjustment relatively of said second-mentioned L- bracket arm, a laterally extending stub shaft carried by each of said stub shaft brackets and spaced outwardly of and substantially parallel with the adjacent shuttle box-carried binders, a binder-engaging arm journalled on each of said stub shafts and providing an ofiset inwardly of its binder-engaging end, stub-shaft-carried spring means normally urging said arms into binder engagement, a binding post extending transversely through each of said binder-engag- 7 ing arms inwardly of the offset binder-engaging ends thereof, said binding posts being insulated from their respective binder-engaging arms and having contact extensions, an insulation material arm journalled on each stub shaft adjacent each of said binder-engaging arms at the offset providing side thereof, said insulation material arms being substantially aligned with said binder contact extension and their outer ends terminating short of the respective binding post contact extensions, a contact extension for each of said insulation material arms and adapted to engage the adjacent binding post contact extension when there is a shuttle at least partially in a raceway-aligned cell, and when a cell is adjacent raceway alignment, means including a bindin post for securing each contact extension to its insulation material carrying arm, a stub-shaftcarried stop element for each of said insulation material arms and limiting movement of the latter in the direction of the shuttle box whereby said contact extension and binding post will be separated, stub-shaft-carried spring means normally urging said insulation material arms toward their respective stop elements, a solenoid magnet carried at the inner surface of one end of the loom frame and having a retractable core, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said loom frame below said solenoid, a detent havin one end pivoted to the upper end of said lever, a link connection between said solenoid core and said detent, a rearwardly extending bunter adjustably carried by one of said shuttle box guides in general opposition to-said lever-carried detent, the free end of said detent being out of the path of travel of said bunter with the lay when the sole noid core is protracted (as it will be when the solenoid is de-energized), a forwardly extending rod pivoted to the lower end of said detent-carrying lever, frame-carried guide means for said rod below said breast beam, lug means on said knockofi shaft, an actuator projection on said rod ar ranged in opposition to said last mentioned knockoff shaft lug means and adapted to engage the latter when said rod is actuated forwardly, a cam on said crank shaft outwardly of one end of said loom frame, a switch finger adjustably carried by said loom frame adjacent said cam and adapted to be periodically engaged thereby as the crankshaft rotates, an energizing circuit for said solenoid including'a source of electrical energy, one side of said source being grounded on said frame and the other side including three switch controlled gaps, two of which are controlled by the relative movement of the respective pairs of binder-engaging and insulation material arms and the other of which is controlled by said crankshaft cam and associated framecarried contact finger.

5. A shuttle smash prevention attachment means for looms which include electrically operated control means, an energizing circuit therefor, and a shiftable shuttle box-incorporating lay, said attachment comprising a lay-carried switch opposite the binder side of said shiftable shuttle box, said switch comprising relatively movable contact carrying elements normally urged toward the opposed shuttle box, the contacts of said movable switch elements being adapted to interengage, and means limiting movement of one guide for said shuttle box, the shuttle-smash-pre-,

vention attachment including a bracket support for said switch carried by said shuttle box guide, the movement limiting means for said first men tioned movable contact carrying switch element being carried by said bracket, and the second contact carrying switch element having an offset binder engaging end portion, the contact of said last mentioned movable switch element extending laterally from said arm and behind said offset, and said first mentioned switch arm being also behind said offset and its contact being a lineal extension thereof.

MA'I'IHEW V. TIRRELL. 

